8 Best Diet and Recovery Tips After Your Kidney Transplant

Only a few foods and other substances are completely off limits after a kidney transplant, but avoiding them is really important. Some foods, drinks and over-the-counter drugs can hurt your kidney function and put you at risk for complications.

Remember that some dietary restrictions often depend on your progress. They can sometimes be necessary after a kidney transplant, on a short- or long-term basis, says Richard Fatica, MD, Vice Chair of Nephrology and Hypertension at Cleveland Clinic.

If your transplant is functioning well, you’ll have few dietary restrictions, but you’ll need to learn about possible interactions with transplant-sustaining drugs. If your new kidney is not doing well, dietary recommendations are likely similar to those for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

8 things to do after a kidney transplant

1. Avoid infections. In the first 90 days after surgery, your immune system is highly suppressed. Having a weakened immune system puts you at high risk for infectious diseases.

Your doctor will likely advise you to avoid close crowds (church, public transportation, fairs and festivals) where contact with an infected person is more likely.